Designer musings on kitchen and residential remodeling

Monday, March 04, 2013

NKBA Top Trends for 2013

Last month, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) put out their top trends for 2013. These were from a survey of over 300 designers in the last quarter of 2013:

Among the overall trends identified for this year, the most significant that surfaced for both kitchens and baths are as follows:

Gray color schemes in both kitchens and baths have witnessed a dramatic escalation since 2010, particularly over the past year. Used currently in 55% of kitchens and 56% of bathrooms, shades of gray are growing in appeal, creating chic, sophisticated spaces that many consumers desire.

Continuing an important trend from last year, transitional-style kitchens and baths have clearly surpassed traditional styles, a longstanding favorite until 2012.

While the use of quartz finishes was in slight decline last year, it has surfaced as a clear trendsetter this year, coming a close second to perennial favorite granite.

No growth in consumer outlays: Homeowners were spending more on their kitchen and bath remodels a year ago -- however, the latest report reveals a slightly less robust situation. The total cost of the average kitchen and of the average bath design in 2012 was $51,050 and $18,575, respectively, but the most recent figures have dipped to $47,308 in kitchens, while staying steady at $18,538 in bathrooms.

Although some trends from the past year continue to grow significantly into 2013, the last three months of 2012 have also laid the groundwork for new ones to thrive. Some of the other top trending design components include white painted cabinetry, glass backsplashes, LED lighting, touch-activated faucets and satin-nickel finishes in kitchens; and ceramic/porcelain tiles and undermount sinks in bathrooms.

Photo Credit: Desire to Inspire via Apartment Therapy “Shades of Gray: Kitchens that Make a Statement”

Let’s discuss, shall we?

Grays: While I see the gray emerging in magazines, I haven’t seen a lot of gray in our California climate. I suspect when we do, it will be a lot of warm or red-based grays vs. the cooler blue-based grays. Driftwood as opposed to platinum, if you will.

Transitional vs. traditional: The transitional style can also be regional. I see it in everything except the period homes.

Quartz: I strongly suspect the two main reasons for the popularity of quartz are: a) it doesn’t require sealing and b) a homeowner doesn’t have to dash out to the stone yard, pick a stone, then dash out again to approve the template.

Growth: Out here, the figures are the opposite, spurred by the tech re-boom and pent-up demand. Our kitchens have been much larger, with more additions than we’ve seen in a long time. Bathrooms have also grown more custom. For this, I credit the high-end box of chocolates known as Houzz. Almost everything in Houzz in in the 5- and 6- figure ranges, but it enables homeowners to see what is possible…and they want it.

Comments

I've fallen in love with Virginia Mist and Glacier White granites (the latter of which might actually be a quartzite, depending on who I ask and the name the stone yard assigns to it) because they remind me of soapstone and marble. So that puts in the "going gray" column but I know that if I end up using them in my kitchen, I'll choose backsplash tiles, wall paint and other accents in a warm blue-gray. We have enough dreary gray days during PNW winters (happy Monday, today is not one of them) to go with a cool gray on the inside.

I kind of address two of the other issues in the above comment. I still prefer granite over quartz. And I lean traditional but not completely so. No fussy, overly ornate details for me. I guess you could say that my preference is for transitional with heavy traditional overtones.